Shoulder decisions — 2024

The Veteran's service-connected disabilities rendered him unable to secure and follow a substantially gainful occupation prior to April 5, 2021. Basic eligibility for Dependents' Educational Assistance under 38 U.S.C. Chapter 35 is also established.

The Veteran's left shoulder disability, which is not the dominant extremity, has been rated at 20 percent since July 1, 2019. The Board found that a higher rating is not warranted based on the evidence of record.

The Veteran's TDIU claim is remanded due to a duty-to-assist error involving missing Social Security Administration (SSA) records. The SSA records are needed to fully assess the Veteran's disability picture and its impact on his employability.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims of service connection for bilateral hearing loss, tinnitus, a right shoulder disability, a bilateral knee disability, and a right foot disability due to insufficient evidence in the record.

The Veteran's rhinitis is granted as presumptively related to service exposure. Low back pain and neck pain with pinched nerves are denied due to lack of in-service injury or disease. Left shoulder pain and right shoulder pain are remanded for further review.

The Board has remanded the Veteran's claims for service connection of left knee, hip, and shoulder conditions due to insufficient evidence regarding their onset during active duty.

The Board has decided to remand the case due to insufficient evidence regarding whether the Veteran's right shoulder disability is related to service. A new VA examination is needed.

The Veteran's claims for service connection have been granted for the right shoulder disorder. The claims for lumbar spine, left hip, and left lower extremity radiculopathy were denied due to lack of new and relevant evidence.

The Board has granted service connection for prostate cancer, colon cancer, skin cancer, and COPD disabilities based on the Veteran's in-service exposure to asbestos and toxic gasses.

The Veteran's claims for compensable ratings for left shoulder and forearm basal cell carcinoma residuals and scars have been denied. The appeal regarding service connection for hepatocellular cancer is pending as new evidence may establish a relationship to active service.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection of right and left knee disorders, as well as right and left shoulder disorders due to insufficient information in previous opinions.

The Veteran is unable to secure or maintain substantially gainful employment due to service-connected psychiatric and right shoulder disabilities, which prevent him from performing his previous job as an electrician.

The Board has granted service connection for right wrist strain, finding that the Veteran's current condition is related to his active service. The other conditions (right ankle and shoulder) were not found to be causally or etiologically related to service.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbosacral strain and right shoulder strain and tendinopathy, both determined to be incurred during periods of active duty training (ACDUTRA).,While the Veteran's STRs do not document his injuries, he provided credible testimony about the nature of his injuries. The VA medical opinions support the finding that these conditions are related to his in-service activities.

The Board has granted service connection for a lumbar spine disability, right shoulder disability, and cervical spine disability as secondary to the appellant's service-connected bilateral foot condition, left shoulder strain, and now-granted lumbar spine disability.,The decision also grants service connection for these conditions on a secondary basis.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for left foot calluses, right foot calluses, a neck disability, diabetes mellitus type 2 (diabetes), lower back disability, and right shoulder disability. The evidence does not support a finding that any of these conditions began during active service or are otherwise related to an in-service injury or disease.

The Board has remanded the claims for left forearm skin cancer, left shoulder skin cancer, and a respiratory condition due to potential service connection based on exposure to Agent Orange. The Veteran's pre-diabetes claim is denied as there is no current diagnosis or functional impairment.

The Board has denied the Veteran's claims for service connection for shingles, a left shoulder disorder, and a right shoulder disorder as there is no current diagnosis of these conditions.

The Board has remanded the claims for service connection due to inadequate VA examinations and failure to consider all relevant evidence. The Veteran's PTSD, back disability, bilateral foot disability, cervical strain, left knee condition, right parapatella tendonitis and patellar tendonosis (claimed as knee condition), left shoulder tenosynovitis, and sleep apnea are being reviewed.

Entitlement to a compensable disability rating for hypertension from May 9, 2021, is denied due to blood pressure readings not meeting the criteria for a 10 percent disability rating under VA's rating criteria.,Entitlement to a compensable disability rating for left shoulder acromiale from May 9, 2021, is denied as the Veteran's condition has completely resolved with no residuals, recurrence, chronicity, or progression.,Entitlement to a compensable disability rating for right shoulder acromiale from May 9, 2021, is denied due to complete resolution of the condition.